COMPASSIONATE ● STRATEGIC ● DETAIL-ORIENTED ● RESOURCEFUL ● CLIENT-CENTRED

OVERVIEW

A leading community-based organization dedicated to empowering women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals through advocacy, programs, and community support. Committed to fostering equity and social change, this organization works to create inclusive opportunities that help individuals thrive and reach their full potential.

EDI-B VALUES

The success of an organization stems from a team that is aligned with its mission and vision, where decisions are made in the best interests of the clients they serve and the marginalized and vulnerable populations across our communities. Through this effort, all team members embrace their role in the organization with respect and dignity for all stakeholders. Through these partnerships, everyone is focused on ensuring a commitment and responsibility toward anti-racism, anti-oppression, equity, diversity, inclusivity, and belonging.

MISSION

The Philanthropy Officer manages a portfolio of donors, collaborating with the Director and Executive Team to support Relationship Managers in achieving goals and demonstrating donor impact. They will build and maintain strong relationships with current and prospective donors, creating meaningful stewardship opportunities that connect donors to the organization's mission.

The Pod Group is partnering with this organization to place an engaging and dynamic leader to fulfill the role of the Philanthropy Officer.

PRIORITIES

Individual & Legacy Giving

• Lead individual and legacy giving by meeting with donor prospects, engaging authentically to foster philanthropic support that meets development and organizational objectives.
• Manage a portfolio of prospective and current donors, developing and overseeing cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies in collaboration with the Philanthropy team.
• Conduct research to understand donor interests, capacity, and connections, creating tailored engagement strategies.
• Support major gift and legacy giving programs by developing strategy, plans, and a compelling case for support.
• Organize and facilitate donor tours of programs and services to showcase the impact of their support.

Donor Stewardship

• Share donor impact through thoughtful stewardship, including donor correspondence, thank-you letters, updates, prospect profiles, and proposals.
• Contribute actively to donor stewardship events and engagement opportunities for major and mid-level donors.
• Support a Relationship Manager approach, helping the Executive Team deliver memorable stakeholder engagement.
• Represent the organization as a mission ambassador at community events, promoting involvement and showcasing mission impact.
• Integrate fundraising opportunities into signature and third-party events, working with the Philanthropy team to engage potential donors and maintain high retention standards.
• Liaise with employees, clients, and volunteers to share inspiring stories that encourage community giving.

Additional Responsibilities

• Model strong leadership behaviors within the organization, fostering a safe, healthy work environment that complies with health and safety standards.
• Build and nurture meaningful partnerships internally and externally.
• Perform other duties as required.

Requirements

TALENTS & EXPERTISE

• Equivalent to the completion of 2 years of college in business, social services, public relations, or marketing.
• Minimum of 5 years in the non-profit sector, with fundraising experience in major gifts, legacy/planned giving, or soliciting donations of $10,000+.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and also work effectively in a team.
• Experience in building relationships, with exceptional listening, networking, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to develop major gift cultivation strategies, write proposals, negotiate gift terms, and close solicitations.
• Strong strategic thinking, confidentiality, diplomacy, tact, and sound judgment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Familiarity with best practices in individual giving, legacy/planned giving, and donor stewardship.
• Ability to work from a feminist, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive perspective.
• Must provide a current Criminal Record Judicial Matters Police check or be willing to obtain one.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends with some travel required within the Hamilton and Halton region where public transit may not be available.

THE POD GROUP

The Pod Group (PG) is a creative consulting group that provides customized and innovative solutions to support our client's growth and ultimate success while promoting the integration of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging in creating culture and engagement.

We balance strategy and people to help community organizations make better use of their resources by focusing on building the competencies to promote people-centric organizations.

The Pod Group has great success in serving a number of community sectors, including health, social services, developmental, housing, mental health, and community health care.

We promote a unique approach while incorporating marketing and human resources as an integral component of strategy, mission, and vision. This focus aligns strategy with the development of a culture that embraces all stakeholders and a community spirit while ensuring an effective plan that meets the requirements of the organization.